ARI News

Peter Schwartz defends selfishness on C-SPAN

On June 10, 2015, ARI’s Distinguished Fellow Peter Schwartz gave a talk in New York City at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. In his talk, Peter discussed the ideas in his new book, In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive. Peter’s talk, which was delivered as a part of ARI’s Road to a Free Society tour, was recorded by C-SPAN and is now available online.
ARI News

Peter Schwartz on the Morality of Egoism

When you hear the word selfishness what comes to mind? Typically, selfishness is associated with amoral, predatory behavior. It’s a word used to describe people like Bernard Madoff or Attila the Hun. On the other hand, selflessness is generally celebrated and aligned with friendship and love. In this talk, Peter Schwartz challenges these misconceptions.
ARI News

An Exclusive Q&A Webinar on In Defense of Selfishness with Author Peter Schwartz

If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive, by Peter Schwartz, to be published on June 2, 2015, please do so today. As a special inducement to those who pre-order the book on or before May 8, ARI is arranging an exclusive Q&A webinar, to be held in August. You’ll have the opportunity to ask Mr. Schwartz questions about the material in his book.
ARI News

Aaron Smith on Selfishness and Benevolence

Ayn Rand is known as a champion of the virtue of selfishness. Most believe, however, that selfishness is incompatible with benevolence, kindness and goodwill towards others. What is the relationship between benevolence and the selfishness that Ayn Rand advocates? That is the question ARI instructor Aaron Smith will explore in a series of talks he will be giving across the country.
ARI News

The Yaron Brook Show: Living a Flourishing Life

On today’s episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron talks about altruism in practice and the virtue of rationality. Topics included: The terrorist attacks in Denmark; the debt crisis in Greece and the morality of sacrifice; the value of reason and the virtue of rationality; selfishness and charity.

Further Reading

Ayn Rand | 1957
For the New Intellectual

The Moral Meaning of Capitalism

An industrialist who works for nothing but his own profit guiltlessly proclaims his refusal to be sacrificed for the “public good.”
View Article
Ayn Rand | 1961
The Virtue of Selfishness

The Objectivist Ethics

What is morality? Why does man need it? — and how the answers to these questions give rise to an ethics of rational self-interest.
View Article